To collect bees for an alcohol wash, you must obtain a sample of approximately 300 nurse bees from a brood frame, where Varroa mites are most concentrated. The two primary methods are shaking a frame of bees into a tub and then scooping a sample, or scooping/brushing bees directly from the frame into a measuring container, taking extreme care to ensure the queen is not included.
The accuracy of your Varroa mite count depends entirely on collecting the right bees. The goal is not just to gather 300 bees, but to specifically sample the nurse bees tending to open brood, as this is where mites congregate before reproducing.
Preparing for a Safe and Accurate Sample
Before you collect any bees, a few preparatory steps are essential for the safety of both you and your colony. This ensures your test results are reliable and the hive remains healthy.
Essential Protective Gear
Always wear appropriate protective gear, including a beekeeping suit or jacket, a veil, and gloves. Removing frames and shaking bees is a disruptive process that can easily aggravate the colony.
The Most Critical Step: Locating the Queen
Your first and most important task is to find the queen. Carefully inspect the frames you intend to sample from and confirm her location.
Once found, you must isolate her by placing her frame safely back in the hive or in a separate nuc box. Accidentally including the queen in the sample will kill her and doom the colony.
Selecting the Right Frame for Testing
For an accurate test, you must sample from a brood nest frame that contains open brood (eggs and young larvae).
Nurse bees, which are responsible for caring for this open brood, have the highest concentration of phoretic-state mites. Mites attach to these bees as a transport mechanism to enter larval cells just before they are capped. Sampling from a honey super or the hive entrance will yield an inaccurate, artificially low mite count.
The Two Primary Collection Methods
With the queen secured, you can proceed with one of two effective collection methods. Both aim to gather a half-cup of bees, which is roughly equivalent to 300 individuals.
Method 1: Shaking Bees into a Tub
This is a common and efficient method. Hold your selected queen-free brood frame firmly over a clean plastic tub.
Give the frame one sharp, downward shake to dislodge the bees into the tub. The bees will briefly fly around before settling. Gently tap one corner of the tub to consolidate the bees, then use a half-cup measure to scoop up your sample.
Method 2: Scooping Directly from the Frame
This method can be slightly less disruptive. Hold the queen-free brood frame at an angle over your collection tub or container.
Gently brush or scoop bees from the surface of the frame directly into your measuring cup. Continue until the cup is full. This method requires a steady hand but can be a calmer process for the colony.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
The goal of testing is to get actionable data. Avoiding simple mistakes is crucial for ensuring the health of your hive and the reliability of your results.
Failing to Confirm the Queen's Location
This is the most severe error. Always double-check that the frame you are shaking or scooping from is queen-free. The loss of a queen is far more damaging than any mite infestation.
Choosing the Wrong Bees
Sampling bees from the wrong location is the most common cause of inaccurate tests. Bees on honey frames or near the entrance are typically foragers, which carry far fewer mites than nurse bees. Your test will falsely report a low infestation level, leaving your colony unprotected.
The Impact of Sacrificing Bees
An alcohol wash is a lethal test that sacrifices around 300 bees. While this is a very small and sustainable loss for a healthy colony, it is an important consideration. It is the trade-off for obtaining the most accurate mite infestation data currently possible.
How to Apply This to Your Beekeeping
Once you have your sample, you can proceed with the alcohol wash test itself. The collection is the foundation for the entire process.
- If your primary focus is speed and efficiency: The shake-into-a-tub method is often quicker for getting a consolidated sample of bees.
- If your primary focus is minimizing colony disruption: Gently scooping or brushing bees directly from the frame can be less chaotic for the hive.
- If your primary focus is maximum accuracy: Regardless of method, your absolute priority is to sample nurse bees directly from a frame containing open brood.
By using a precise collection method, you ensure your mite counts are reliable, leading to better treatment decisions and healthier colonies.
Summary Table:
| Step | Key Action | Why It's Critical |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | Locate and isolate the queen. Wear protective gear. | Prevents accidental loss of the queen and ensures beekeeper safety. |
| 2. Frame Selection | Choose a frame with open brood (eggs/larvae). | Nurse bees here have the highest concentration of phoretic Varroa mites. |
| 3. Collection Method | Shake bees into a tub or scoop directly from the frame. | Both methods effectively gather a half-cup (~300 bees) sample. |
| 4. Avoid Pitfalls | Never sample from honey supers or the hive entrance. | Forager bees have fewer mites, leading to inaccurate, low counts. |
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